Fertility Dances

Excerpt pp.107-118

The fertility dance exercises are the feast of LUNA YOGA. Just as
you wouldn't give a banquet every day, you don't do fertility dances
on a daily basis. Too much of a powerful thing does not lead to good
health. In the traditions of the tribal people who originated these
(modified) dances, fertility dances and fertility rituals are allowed
only at specific, defined times.

These vigorous fertility dances stimulate ovulation, deepen sexual
sensation, can bring on menstruation, and improve sperm count and quality.
In combination with the Gentle Sensing Exercises they are highly effective
when performed as directed.

Any attempt to do these dances will benefit you, but for greatest
benefit, look for a teacher who can get you off to a good start. Whether
you have a teacher or not, be sure to limit your practice to the times
I specify and to the ways I suggest the dances be done. You can, of
course choose your own sequence of steps and thus make up your own unique
fertility dance.

The fertility dance exercises need to be done with attention to detail.
Every motion has meaning: the movements of the arms convey messages,
the bending of the head evokes feelings, and the rocking of the pelvis
generates and circulates Shakti, the great force of all life.

In the African people I found a delight in movement. I admired their
lusty willingness to frisk and caper and to surrender to the impulses
of their bodies. And I especially noted their ability to stay in one's
own rhythm. Perhaps they took it in with their mother's milk, but it
can be learned. We can learn it. We can learn to move freely. We can
learn not just about staying with oneself, in one's own center, but
also about entering into encounter, about moving in contact and communication
with others. We can move with passion and delight, not just to dance
on feast days and celebrations, but in our daily lives as well.

When we dance, we must breathe with attention, inhaling and exhaling
through the nose. This helps us coordinate the movements of our bodies
with the unique rhythm of our breath. Inhale as you open, exhale when
you close.

The movements of the fertility dances don't have to be done quickly.
If your breathing rhythm is slow, move slowly. However, it is important
to keep the movement flowing and uninterrupted, so it can send a strong
impulse to the physiological processes of the body, especially to the
hormonal system.

Note: If your intention is to hinder implantation of a fertilized egg,
you have to execute the dances as soon as possible after fertilization
has occurred and at precise 24-hour intervals for the next four days,
with forceful exhalation through the nose, and with stamping feet. (See
page 127 for full sequence.)

If your intention is to increase fertility, step more lightly, and do
the dances only before ovulation has occurred. (See page 125 for full
sequence.)

Basic Fertility Dance Stance

Place your feet parallel (neither turned inward nor outward) about
hip distance apart. Keep your pelvis relaxed, and your knees slightly
flexed (not locked or rigid). Let the shoulders and arms also relax.
Maybe it will help you to imagine a chair behind you: assume a posture
as if you were about to sit down. Let your breath sink deeply into your
abdomen and pelvis. Sense into the stance.

Pelvic Turns

Begin in the basic fertility dance stance, described above. Inhale
and bring the hands to rest on the hips. Exhale and turn to the right.
Inhale to center. Exhale and turn to the left. Sense into the pelvis.
Initiate these turns from your sacroiliac joint, but extend them all
the way to the top of the head. Your sacroiliac joint is between your
hipbones and your sacrum. You can best feel this little joint when you
place your hand on your sacrum and feel with your fingers for the indentations
in this flattened bone. Turn left and right and see if you can feel
the movement in the joint.

Weight Shifting #1

Assume the basic fertility dance stance, arms relaxed. Breathe fully
into the pelvis, letting the abdomen round out. As you breathe, shift
your weight from center to back and back to center and to the front
and back to the basic dance stance. Keep your center of gravity deep
in the pelvis. Breathe and sense thoroughly into your womb.

Weight Shifting #2

Assume the basic fertility dance stance and breathe completely into
the pelvis. Shift your weight as far to the right as you can. Return
to center. Shift as far to the left as you can. Return to center. Continue,
keeping your breath flowing out of a soft, open pelvis.

Weight Shifting #3

Begin in the basic fertility dance stance. Breathe fully, shift your
weight to the left, then to the front. Inhale and continue shifting
your weight to the right, and then to the back so you've drawn an imaginary
small circle in the air (parallel to the floor) with your pubic bone.
Do this as one continuous motion, inhaling and exhaling as you shift
the weight of your pelvis in a circle to the right. After several repetitions,
shift to the left. Sense totally into the pelvis/genitals.